A Spiked Drink

[Songdragon]

Saranna answers the elder man, "I did indeed say just that. I believe that the marks on the bottles are not new and were prepared before hand." She nods and takes up something that she suspects is done in Rukelp's own hand and compares the two.

(Linguistics if needed 1d20+6=10)

"It would appear that Rukelp did not seem to investigate what stick he was given, not suspecting the old adage, if it is too good to be true, it usually is." The young halfling woman comments.

 

[jackslate45]

The destruction of the chair reveals feathers and cloth that have long been useless scattered on the floor. Broken tips of feathers shuffle around as Relic searches the chair and finds nothing.

Looking a second time at the bottles, and comparing it with the notes that Rulkekp had scattered around, Saranna and Relic realize that Ruklep's handwriting differs from the X's and labels. It looks like a third party had label them prior. After comparing the writings, Relic finally gets down to reading the ledger.

The first few pages are from months ago, each order to a page. The order is detailed down to the ingredients needed to brew the potions, the name of the client, the address of the client, and the location of the clients. Recalling some of the names from as current nobles, and 2 names of former Scarlotti members, you can see that Rulkelp was indeed rubbing elbows with some powerful people.

The biggest oddity though is in the back. 3 orders, each detailed about 10 days ago, has notes at the bottom saying how an order was supposed to come soon. After this, the last page in the book reads as this:

"Meeting with Thames did not lighten mood. Ship lost at sea. Will have to cancel order." The date is marked as 5 days ago, which is also the day Rulkelp claims he met his mysterious girl.

[sblock=Relic]
Appraise/Perception: The chair is clearly much older than Rukelp is, easily as old as Rulkelp's Great Grandfather.
Linguistics: While the handwriting is different, something about the book rubs you the wrong way. Perception check please.
[/sblock]

 

[jackslate45]

The mountain Emet heavy foot falls causes Follet and Urdrak to storm inside, swords drawn "Everything alright back..what the?!" Follet stares up at Emet and says "PLEASE tell me this thing is one of your guy's"

Urdark, on the other hand, looks around at hidden office door and says "What that?"

 

[Songdragon]

Saranna gives a sigh as the guards bust in. She turns and bows to the two whitecloaks, "Yes, the large," she pauses a minute to pick an appropriate word, "Being, is a companion of my friend here, " she motions to Holphin.

As Urdark seems less concerned with the rock creature and more of the discovered hidden office, she comments, "Part of our investigation." She smiles and says in a friendly manner, "If you would," she motions to the door back outside, "We are in the process of gathering evidence. Might I remind you, we have permission to be here."

(Diplomacy... 1d20+9=10 Blah. At least 1s are not automatic failures on skill checks.)

[sblock=Saranna Surefoot's Mini Stats] Saranna Surefoot (Songdragon)
Hallfing Rogue 2
Initiative: +3 Perception: +9
Conditions: n/a
AC: 19 (14 touch; 16 flat-footed)
HP: 14 of 14
CMB: +0 CMD: 13 Fort: +1 Ref: +7 Will: +3
In Hand: buckler[/sblock]

 

[jbear]

Grumbling to himself and shifting in his chair with great discomfort after having vandalised the cushion after his attack of feverish paranoia, Relic can be heard saying:

"Hrumph ... everything here points to the gnome's story being truthful ... 5 days ago his shipment disappeared or so it says in this ledger. The same day he met the woman ... now I know my brain is somewhat addled ... but didn't Rukelp say that he spent two days searching for new stock before he found this woman? There seems to be a misalignment of the days in the our alchemist's story! And ... there is something about this book that is bugging me ... what is it that sits at the end of my nose, before my eyes ... and yet I fail to see? Hrumph."

Relic peers at the book with exagerated earnest ignoring the commotion outside the room as the guards rush in.

 

[Systole]

Urdark, on the other hand, looks around at hidden office door and says "What that?"

Daylily looks back and forth between the half-orc and the door in mock surprise. "What that? By spirits! What that!? Is difficulty to knowing." He pretends to measure it with his hands. "Is like a hole, almost one pacing across, so if I am to guessing, maybe is your mother is misplace her--"

OOC: I'm guessing someone will cut Daylily off at this point. If not, I'm happy to finish the sentence.

 

[jbear]

OOC: Not by Relic he won't! Apart from concentrating on something else and being mildly deaf, he finds Daylily's provocation of the authorities amusing, despite the negative consequences that comment is probably going to have.

 

[Songdragon]

Saranna turns to Daylily and with a stern look, and replies in elven, "Please, stop. It appears that they were not aware of the secret room that I discovered. There is no need to antagonize those who could make this more difficult then it already is." She will bow her head respectfully to the elf.

The halfling then turns back to the two Whitecloaks.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Emet stares impassively as the Whitecloaks enter.

Holphin pipes up, "Not to worry, sirs, Emet is with me. I asked him to join us while we investigate. It may simply be my own personal suspicion, but there may very well be more individuals watching this place than ourselves and Venza's finest," indicating Urdrak and Follet.

Casting a furtive glance outside, he adds, "So who is watching the front right now?"

 

[jbear]

Unsure that the group will be allowed to continue their investigations as he senses the cafuffle out in the store and unable to make anything more from his reading of the ledger at this stage, he slips the book safely away in his pocket to show his companions at a later time.

He moves to the book shelves to see if any of the texts are directly or indirectly magical in nature, in search for anything that might betray Rukelp as a magic user, or perhaps texts of a darker nature that might deal with poisons or diseases in particular.